They basically have access to most books that are available from other retailers.

As I said in some of my earlier posts however you need to really evaluate the book costs. Make an estimate on how many books you will read/buy (Don't be too conservative as studies generally show people read more in ebook form than they do in paper form)and have a look at the prices of the kind of books you would buy on each devices default store and work out what the price difference is likely to be for a years worth of books.

The cheaper devices can seem appealing from a cost pov but the overall cost can end up being more when content prices are taken into account so it needs to be a part of any decision making process

Also be aware that Barnes & Nobel who make the Nook aren't in the best financial state and the Nook was their attempt at changing the companies fortunes but it hasn't really had the desired effect. So their default store's long term future is less stable at the moment than Amazon or Kobo. If you are happy sideloading content the loss of the default store may not be an issue but for some people it may be too complicated

As wakey says, the book selection seems fine to me. I mainly tend to read Sci-Fi or Fantasy type stuff (bit stereotypical for an IT worker!) and the selection seems comprehensive. I haven't looked at the other genres as much, but it seems good.

They also seem to have a good selection of offers, which is allowing me to dip my toes into some authors I haven't tried before.

Barnes and Noble (the Nook owners) are not having quite as much success as Amazon with their store, they currently have about 20% of the ebook market according to some analysts. But, the device does allow "side loading" using an SD card and will work with my local library, so I am not too worried.

Being as i'm a bit ot an old technophope, could someone please define - in simple terms - what 'sideloading' is? and how you do it?

It's discussed earlier in the thread (see post #18) but basically, in eReader terms, most folk class it as when you add a book to your device via USB cable (or possibly email, with regards to the Kindle) rather than via their respective stores...

My first 'ebook reader' was a RocketBook. Good times. Thanks to my job, I own too many ebook readers. I currently have: Sony PRS-505, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard with 3G, two Kindle Paperwhites (1gen Wifi and 2nd gen 3G), Libre Pro and Onyx Boox (Black Pearl edition). The only model I didn't ever own is a Jetbook.

All have own strengths and weaknesses. Some can't handle PDFs well, some are utterly unreadable when outdoors, some have over-sensitive buttons, a couple of unresponsive or sluggish touch screens, etc. On the other hand, they excel in other areas.

The best ebook reader is the one that ticks most requirements on your list.

Do you like reading at bed time? Go for the one that has a back-light. There are some covers with lights attached, but it's usually battery-operated or relies on power directly from an ebook reader.

Do you like to download a book whenever you like or wherever you are? Go for the one with Wifi if you're in an area of decent Wifi hotspots or 3G (free in Kindle's case) if not.

Do you have loads of reading materials in PDF format (common with scholar works, scripts, magazines and so on)? Go for the one that handles PDF format best.

Do you like audiobooks? Go for the one with text-to-speech function or can accept audiobooks.

Think about what you want or need from an ebook reader. It'll be easier to choose once you know.

Being as i'm a bit ot an old technophope, could someone please define - in simple terms - what 'sideloading' is? and how you do it?

mrred2000 and Takae explain the basics but just thought I would highlight the difference between the two methods.

You have a kindle and you want to buy a book all you do is head to Amazon either on the device itself via the store button or on your computer. You find the book, you click buy and a few seconds later its there on your device ready to start being read. If you delete the item off your kindle its always the in your cloud where it can be downloaded again in a few seconds directly from your device. And its the same on the Kobo, Nook and basically any ereader that has a default inbuilt store. Just head to that default store and purchase.

If you however go outside the default store for your device this isn't generally possible. You need to purchase on your computer, download the book, connect the device to the computer and then copy the book onto the device manually usuing whatever method is required for that device/store. With some devices you may also be able to add them to a memory card and then plug that into the device or with the Kindle you can email the downloaded book to the kindle email address they assign to your device and its automatically sent to the device.

Sideloading can be as simple as dragging and dropping but it can get a bit more complicated as you may need to unlock a book or convert it for the device in question so if you aren't very techy then its often best to stick to one that has an inbuilt store so finding which inbuilt store suits you best is the most important factor (So ease of use, range of books and book pricing are the key aspects then in a decision)

mrred2000 and Takae explain the basics but just thought I would highlight the difference between the two methods.

You have a kindle and you want to buy a book all you do is head to Amazon either on the device itself via the store button or on your computer. You find the book, you click buy and a few seconds later its there on your device ready to start being read. If you delete the item off your kindle its always the in your cloud where it can be downloaded again in a few seconds directly from your device. And its the same on the Kobo, Nook and basically any ereader that has a default inbuilt store. Just head to that default store and purchase.

If you however go outside the default store for your device this isn't generally possible. You need to purchase on your computer, download the book, connect the device to the computer and then copy the book onto the device manually usuing whatever method is required for that device/store. With some devices you may also be able to add them to a memory card and then plug that into the device or with the Kindle you can email the downloaded book to the kindle email address they assign to your device and its automatically sent to the device.

Sideloading can be as simple as dragging and dropping but it can get a bit more complicated as you may need to unlock a book or convert it for the device in question so if you aren't very techy then its often best to stick to one that has an inbuilt store so finding which inbuilt store suits you best is the most important factor (So ease of use, range of books and book pricing are the key aspects then in a decision)

Some people also chose to download their books to their PC from the default store and then connect the reader to the computer and transfer via usb. This is useful for people who don't have access to wifi or have 3G enabled devices.

Some people also chose to download their books to their PC from the default store and then connect the reader to the computer and transfer via usb. This is useful for people who don't have access to wifi or have 3G enabled devices.

Well yes but I wouldn't imagine its that many mind you. Most people these days if they have a computer have wifi

You'd be supprised how many posts there are on the kindle forums who have just bought kindles or want to buy one but want to know how to get books on their devices as they don't have wifi at home.

Still think these people probably represent a tiny percentage. Things like these often look more widespread on forums simply because people don't join a forum to say the opposite. Just like popular products will often come across as worse than they are on forums as people are more inclined to post problems than praise.

After all is there an ISP who doesn't provide a wireless router these days? So its just those who got ADSL/cable/fibre after about 2004 or those still on Dial up or Mobile networks or those who use the net at friends/family/public place who don't have wifi at home

Some people also chose to download their books to their PC from the default store and then connect the reader to the computer and transfer via usb. This is useful for people who don't have access to wifi or have 3G enabled devices.

Of course I know that amazon didn't invent the ebook reader. My first device wasn't a kindle but a Sony reader.

you be shocked how many think so, just like people think that Apple invented MP3 players or smart phones.

Sure Apple did produce the first decent smart phone and because of Apple we are now where we are with smart phones. Saying that someone else would have come out with the idea.

Not sure about MP3 players to be hones, i suppose Apple did make them more popular

I just want to provide an alternative opinion because I think you put amazon in a bad light lol.

Is it possible to amazon in a bad light? since they have done that themselves.

I have a kindle paper white because I feel that it is the best device on the market right now with the best store. I've owned a kobo glo and mini, as well as my old Sony PRS 300, current nook simple touch and several different kindles. I feel that I can make an informed decision as I've experienced all of the main brands on the market. However at the end of the day you don't need to be tied down to any book store. I have books on my kindle that I've bought from kobo and books on my nook that I've bought from amazon. I don't feel tied to amazon at all.

We all got out opinions and we all like different things, it be strange world if we did not and we would have larger monopolies if everyone used the same company.

I prefer my Kobo and i still think it is a better product than the kindle, yes I do agree that some books are more expensive, I had a look after reading some of the messages on this thread, My hitchhickers guide to the galaxy was slightly cheaper on the kindle, but to be honest I rather pay a bit more to kobo than pay amazon for ever more for books.

I thought amazon was a good company, useful and used to use it a lot, but over the last 12 months or so I have used it less and now buy most of my Cd's elsewhere. I even tend to look in other places for other products now, I only use amazon if I really have to.

You'd be supprised how many posts there are on the kindle forums who have just bought kindles or want to buy one but want to know how to get books on their devices as they don't have wifi at home.

Yeah, my brother only jusT had wi-fi at home by changing to EE, just before christmas, before he was with the post office office and only had a ethernet modem.
So if he had a e-reader, he would have had the same problem.

you be shocked how many think so, just like people think that Apple invented MP3 players or smart phones.

Sure Apple did produce the first decent smart phone and because of Apple we are now where we are with smart phones. Saying that someone else would have come out with the idea.

Not sure about MP3 players to be hones, i suppose Apple did make them more popular

Is it possible to amazon in a bad light? since they have done that themselves.

We all got out opinions and we all like different things, it be strange world if we did not and we would have larger monopolies if everyone used the same company.

I prefer my Kobo and i still think it is a better product than the kindle, yes I do agree that some books are more expensive, I had a look after reading some of the messages on this thread, My hitchhickers guide to the galaxy was slightly cheaper on the kindle, but to be honest I rather pay a bit more to kobo than pay amazon for ever more for books.

I thought amazon was a good company, useful and used to use it a lot, but over the last 12 months or so I have used it less and now buy most of my Cd's elsewhere. I even tend to look in other places for other products now, I only use amazon if I really have to.

It's great that there are a range of different readers on the market so we can all get the one that we want

There is one thing I like about the kobo devices, the ability to display the cover of the book that you're reading on the lock screen. I wish that the kindle had that.

I'll probably end up getting the aura HD at some point. I'm holding out for Amazon to make their own luxury reader, but I might just have to go for the HD one of these days.

It's great that there are a range of different readers on the market so we can all get the one that we want

It would be even better if Amazon hadn't gone their own way and used a format different to everyone else. That way the supplier of the reading material is separated from the supplier of the device, unfortunately at the moment that is currently the case for everyone else but not Amazon.

It would be even better if Amazon hadn't gone their own way and used a format different to everyone else. That way the supplier of the reading material is separated from the supplier of the device, unfortunately at the moment that is currently the case for everyone else but not Amazon.

They didn't choose to go a different way to the others however. Amazons standard is just the mobi standard with drm on top. Mobi was created in 2000 but ePub didn't get released until September 2007. EPub wouldn't have been an option when they were developing the product and having to develop a DRM addition to mobi to get the publishers to be ok with licencing the content.

They didn't choose to go a different way to the others however. Amazons standard is just the mobi standard with drm on top. Mobi was created in 2000 but ePub didn't get released until September 2007. EPub wouldn't have been an option when they were developing the product and having to develop a DRM addition to mobi to get the publishers to be ok with licencing the content.

You're playing with words.

All the other devices and books are interchangeable with everyone else except Amazon. If Amazon wanted to they could easily have Kindle play ePub with DRM and allow others to read Amazon books, they don't do this because they want people to be tied into Kindle and Amazon books.

you be shocked how many think so, just like people think that Apple invented MP3 players or smart phones.

Sure Apple did produce the first decent smart phone and because of Apple we are now where we are with smart phones. Saying that someone else would have come out with the idea.

Not sure about MP3 players to be hones, i suppose Apple did make them more popular

It happens in most industries, it doesn't matter being first its important being first to get it right. The ereaders before simply didn't get every part of the hardware, software, ease of use and the store integration right where Amazon did.

It was the same with Apple with both the smartphone and the MP3 player. There were plenty of both before but apple just got the complete package right.

And its easy to say afterwards that someone else would have done it as everything done with these products is so simple but I'm not sure tbh. Other had plenty of time to come up with the ideas that made these and other products successful and they didn't. Seems simple ideas are the hardest to come up with.

Is it possible to amazon in a bad light? since they have done that themselves.

What because like most companies they choose to pay less tax? You do realise mostnof the other firms in the market do that. Rakuten who own Kobo also own Play.com who reveled in using Jerseys tax situation and when the loophole was fixed pulled out as a retailer.

I prefer my Kobo and i still think it is a better product than the kindle, yes I do agree that some books are more expensive, I had a look after reading some of the messages on this thread, My hitchhickers guide to the galaxy was slightly cheaper on the kindle, but to be honest I rather pay a bit more to kobo than pay amazon for ever more for books.

I thought amazon was a good company, useful and used to use it a lot, but over the last 12 months or so I have used it less and now buy most of my Cd's elsewhere. I even tend to look in other places for other products now, I only use amazon if I really have to.